Locking device for interlocking switch stands



July 21, 1925.

F. C. ANDERSON LOCKING DEVICE FOR INTERLOCKING swmcn STANDS Filed Nov. 15. 1924- 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1 Fig. 1 g

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Patented July 21, 1925.

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FRANK C. ANDERSON, F CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN VALVE AND METER COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CO'RPORA TIOII OF OHIO,

LOCKING DEVICE FOR INTEIRLOGKING SWITCH STANDS.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK C. ANDnnsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looking Devices for Interlocking Switch Stands, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to switch-stands and interlocking devices therefor wherein there is provision for preventing locking of the switch-stand unless the switch-rails have been drawn thereby into safe relation, through the medium of 'a plunger to enter a recess in a bar connected to the rails. Examples of such interlocking devices are disclosed and claimed in my prior Patents No. 1,141,905, issued June 1, 1915, No. 1,234,522, issued July '24, 1917, and No. 1,276,157, issued August 20, 1918, as well as in my co-pending applications, Serial No. 732,218, filed August 15, 1924, Serial No. 7 37,149, filed September 11, 1924, Serial No. 7 39,113, filed September 22, 1924, and Serial No. 21,057, filed April 6, 1925; the several examples differing in accordance with the requirements in connection with various types of switch-stands disclosed therewith.

An object of my present invention, in com- 111011 with that of the devices of the mentioned applications, is to lock the interlock ing mechanism directly by a manually applied lock, so that, although the switchstand or its appurtenancesshould be torn away from the, interlocking mechanism in an accident, the interlocking mechanism will remain safely locked, pending repairs. 7 A further ob ect of my present invention is to simplify the construction and operation of the apparatus, as compared with the de vices of my prior applications mentioned. Other objects will appear in the course of the ensuing description.

I attain these objects by the device illustrated, for example, in the accompanying drawings, in which- V v Figure 1 is a perspective'view of part of a switch and a switch-stand connected thereto in association'with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device embodying my invention;

Fig. 3 isa detail perspective view of the guard bar;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the device, the section being across the hood on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 5; and

5 is a longitudinal vertical section on the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 4, parts being shown in elevation.

In the example selected for illustration of my invention, the switch-stand 1 comprises the upright target shaft 2 in upper and lower bearings 8 and 4, with crank 5 below the lower bearing connected to the switchconnecting rod 6, which rod is connected to the point rails 7 and 8 of the switch by the bar 9, in a well known manner. The shaft 2 is turned by means of the fulcrum head 10 swinging around the switch-stand top 11, which latter has notches 12 and 13 ninety degrees apart, into either one of which the switch-throwing lever 14 may engage when swung down on its pivotal mounting in the head 10, whereupon it projects an ear 15 that may receive a padlock preventing its upward swinging out of the notch 12 or 13, as is necessary for rotating the shaft 2 and throwing the switch. The stand herein exemplified has been locked with a padlock connected by a chain to part of the operating means of the interlocking mechanism in such a manner that the chain prevents the look from reaching the ear 15 if the interlocking mechanism has not engaged itsplunger in the interlocking bar.

In my present invention, provision is made for this if desired, as later will be described; but preferably, as is the primary object of this invention, the padlock is applied directly to the interlocking mechanism, which,.holding the rails by its interlocking engagement, locks the switch although no lock is applied to the switch-stand proper. This interlocking device resembles those of the other applications and the patents above mentioned, in having the housing 16 set into a gain in one of the head blocks that support the stand, with a stirrup 17 projecting outside the head block at its front, and the interlocking bar 18 sliding along the head block through this stirrup, with an opening through which the interlocking plunger 19, sliding forwardly and rearwardly in the housing, is adapted to extend when the bar opening registers with openings in the easing and stirrup in which the plunger is guided. This interlocking bar 18 extends under the stock rail and has its end connected by a plate to the end of the nearer point rail 7 of the switch. A helical spring 21 coiled around the plunger 19 and abutting the depending rear plunger guide 22 of the housing,-tends to forcethe plunger forward; so that the .plunger automatically enters the opening of the bar 18 when registry occurs as above explained. To withdraw the plunger 19 for opening the switch, a lever comprises a depending arm 23 engaging in arack fixed to the plunger; against which rack the forward end of the spring 21 bears. This lever has the laterally oppositely extending shaft members or trunnions 24 which are journaled in the top of the base part of the housing 16 under the cover 25 thereof, which cover is bolted to the base part. The ends of these shaft parts 24: carry extensions by means of which the switchman may operate the plunger-withdrawing means thus made up. In all of these respects, the exemplified mechanism resembles the prior ones alluded to above, as well as in having the rod '26 connected to the rack of the plunger and extending out of :the rear end of thehousing, for connection of signal mechanism to the interlocking mechanism where desirable.

I have simplified the means for directly locking the interlocking mechanism, however, as compared with that of any of my prior applications mentioned above, as to construction, or-operation, or both, not only by fixing the padlock-receiving element directly to the plunger-operating lever, but in making this element receive the lock in the front part of the device, conveniently close to the element engaged by the switchman for opening the interlocking mechanism preparatory to throwing the switch by means of "the switch-stand proper, and in making such projection of this element as is needed for the purpose with a minimum of opening left in the top of the housing, so that snow, ice, dirt and the like are more effectually ex cluded. Thus, the plunger-operating lever comprises the upper-arm27 radially opposite the depending arm 23 and swinging forwardly and rearward ly in an upstanding hood 28 formed on the housing top or cover 25. This hood 28 has the rectangular aperture 29 in its front, between two ribs 30 and 31 formed on the front of the hood, and the rib 30, which is very close to the aperture 29, has the round aperture 32 about midway of the height of the rectangular aperture 29, large enough to receive the bow of a padlock 33 as shown in Fig. 1. The guard bar 3 1 is of cross-section corresponding to that of the rectangular aperture 29 so as to fit rather snugly therein; only enough clearance being allowed to permit insertion of the bar '34 into the aperture 29 from the interior of the hood 28 when assembling the device, and to permit the bar to slide easily use.

through the aperture. Moreover, such clearance is mostly at the inner end of the aperture 29, so that there is practically a weather and dirt proof closure of the hood 28 around the bar 34: at all times. The inner end of the bar 3d is bifurcated, with the lateral members 35 straddling the upper end part of the upper arm 27, and a pivot pin 36 is secured in these members 35, passing therethrough and loosely through the arm 2(. front end of the bar 34 may move substantially in a straight line, which thus permits its close fit in the aperture 29 as just explained. This bar 34- is ofsuch length that its front end is substantially flush with the front of the hood 28 when the upper arm 27 is swung back incident to forward swinging of the depending arm 23 when the plunger 19 is pressed forward by the spring 21 into the opening of the interlocking bar 18; but when the arms 23 and 27 swing to withdraw the plunger, the front end of this bar 34: projects across the padlock-receiving aperture 32, so that the bow of the lock cannot be inserted, thus making it impossible to lock the mechanism unless the plunger 19 is admitted to the interlocking bar opening as a reult of the switch point rails being brought into safe proximity to the stock rails.

In the example herein, a treadle 37 is pro vided as the means whereby the switchman or operator may operate the mechanism to withdraw the plunger. The extensions on the outer ends of the shaft parts or trunnions 2 before alluded to, are in the form of forwardly extending arms 38; and the treadle 37 has rearwardly extending arms 39, straddling the housing and lapping outside the arms 38, being riveted thereto. This separate formation of the treadle 37 is incidental to the preferred integral formation of the two interior lever arms 23 and 27 and their trunnions or shaft parts 2a; the separate parts being more practically made by casting than if the treadle were formed integral with the arms and trunnious, and the integral formation of the arms and trunnions being stronger and more dependable than would keying or otherwise fastening together these parts after making separately. The opposite ends of the treadle 37 have eyes 40, one of which may receive the end of a chain attached to a padlock to be inserted in the switch-stand car 15 in the manner before alluded to; the chain being so short that when the treadle is down it will not allow the lock to reach the car 15, so that the switch-stand cannot be locked unless the plunger 19 is safely in the opening of the interlocking bar 18. This being previously known in the art, such chain and lock are not illustrated herein; it being sufiicient that my present device is equipped for their As the treadle arms 39 lie above the Thus, although the arm 27 swings, the

top of the housing 16 when the switch is locked, they are guarded by upward projections 41 formed on the front corners of the housing cover this provision being like that disclosed and claimed in my co -pending application Serial No. 739,113 before mentioned. In the present example, the padlock 33 has a chain 42 fastened by a staple in the head block on which the interlocking device is mounted. It will be understood that the mechanism may be mounted with its opposite side toward the switch-stand proper, if the stand is at the opposite side of the track, or if the switch turns out in the opposite direction; hence the provision of eyes at both ends of the treadle 37 for connection of a chain at the side next to the switch-stand proper, in any instance.

In the first mentioned one of my prior applications, the outer extensions of the interlocking device are connected to the switch throwing lever so that the device is opened by raising the lever preparatory to throwing the switch; in the second mentioned application, a corresponding extension engages a latch for a parallel or ground-throw stand; and in the third, the extension engages such a latch and is weighted to open the interlocking device by gravity, requiring manual closing. All of these, however, embody some form of direct locking device which may be supplanted by my present locking device; or, to state it differently, my present device may have its outer operating extension'or extensions modified to correspond to any of those of my prior devices. Other modifications may occur, in conjunction with other kinds of switch-throwing or interlocking mechanisms, or with that herein exemplified; and I do not wish to be understood as being limited to the precise disclosure herein, but having fully described and exemplified a use of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an interlocking mechanism, an interlocking plunger, a lock for said plunger, and sliding means operatively related to said plunger to prevent locking of said plunger by said lock when the plunger is removed from interlocking position.

2. In an interlocking mechanism, an interlocking plunger, means whereby an operator may actuate said plunger, a lock for said plunger, and means movable by said plunger toward the point of application of power by the operator to prevent locking of said plunger by said look when said plunger is removed from interlocking position.

3. In an interlocking mechanism, an interlocking plunger, operatingmeans for said plunger, a hood enclosing said operating means, and a member operatively related to said operating means and movable thereby into and out of said hood, said mechanism comprising an apertured part to receive a lock for locking said plunger, the aperture of which is covered by said member, preventing application of the lock, when the plunger is removed from interlocking position. 7

4:. In an interlocking mechanism, an interlocking plunger, operating means for said plunger, a hood enclosing said operating means, a member pivoted tosaid operating means within said hood and slidable through a wall of said hood, and an extension outside said hood having an aperture to receive a lock in the path of said member, thereby locking the plunger, said aperture being covered by said member, preventing application of the lock, when the plunger is removed from interlocking position.

5. An interlocking mechanism comprising a housing having a slotted hood with an extension alongside its slot, apertured to re ceive part of a look, a lever swinging in said housing, having an upper arm in said hood, having a depending arm in said housing, and having an operative extension outside said housing, an interlocking plunger in said housing, operatively related to said depending arm, and a bar projected by said upper arm through the slot of the hood past the aperture of the hood extension when said plunger is removed from interlocking position.

6. An interlocking mechanism comprising a housing having a slotted hood with an extension alongside its slot apertured to re ceive part of a look, a lever swinging in said housing, having an upper arm in said hood, having a depending arm in said housing, and having operative extensions outside said housing at opposite sides thereof, an interlocking plunger in said housing, operatively related to said depending arm, a bar projected by said upper arm through the slot of the hood past the aperture of the hood extension when the plunger is removed from interlocking position, and a treadle connecting said extensions across one end part of said housing.

7. An interlocking mechanism comprising a housing having a hood with a slot in its front and having an extension alongside its slot apertured to receive part of a lock, a lever swinging in said housing, having an upper arm in said hood, having a depend ing arm in said housing, and having a forward operative extension outside said housing, a plunger in said housing, slid forward into interlocking position and operatively related to said depending arm, and a bar projected forward by said upper arm through the slot of the hood past the aperture of the hood extension when the plunger is slid backward from interlocking position.

8. An interlocking mechanism comprising a housing having a hood with a slot opening toward one end of the housing and having an extension alongside its slot apertured to receive part of a. look, a lever swinging in said housing, having an upper arm in said hood, having a depending arm in said housing, a plunger in said housing, sliding intoand out of interlocking position and operatively related "to said depending arm, a bar projected by said upper arm through the slot of the hood past the aperture of the hood extension when the plunger is slid from interlocking position, said lever having an operative extension outside said housing, and a treadle on said operative extension near said one end of said housing.

9. An interlocking mechanism comprising a housing having a hood with a slot in its front and having an extension alongside its slotapertured to receive part of a look, a lever swinging in said housing, having an upper a m in said hood, having a depending arm in said housing, and having forward operative extensions outside said housing at opposite sides thereof, a plunger in said housing, slid forward into interlocking position and operatively related to said depending arm, a bar projected forward by said upper arm through the slot of the hood past the aperture of the hood extension when the plunger isslid backward from interlocking position, and a treadle connecting said operative extensions across the front end part of said housin 10. In an interlocking mechanism an interlocking plunger, a lock for said plunger, means operatively related to said plunger to prevent locking of said plunger by said lock when the plunger is removed from interlocking position, and means whereby an operator may actuate said plunger, having an eye to which a lock may be chained.

11. An interlocking mechanism comprising a housing having a cover with a slotted hood, said hood having an extension alongside the slot of the hood apertured to receive part of a look, a lever swinging in said housing, with trunnions jonrnaled in said housing under said cover and operative extensions on the respective trunnions outside the housing at opposite sides thereof, said lever having an upper arm in said hood and a depending arm in said housing, an interlocking plunger in said housing, operatively related to said depending arm, a bar projected by said upper arm through the slot of the hood past the aperture of the hood extension when said plunger is removed from interlocking position, and a treadle having members straddling said housing and fixed to said operative extensions.

12. An interlocking mechanism comprising a housing having a cover with a slotted hood, said hood having an extension alongside its slot apertured to receive part of a lock, a. lever swinging in said housin with trunnions journaled in said housing under said cover and an operative extension on one of said trunnions outside said housing, said lever having an upper arm in said hood and a depending arm in said housing, an interlocking plunger in said housing, operatively related to said depending arm, and a bar having members straddling and pivoted to said upper arm and extending into said slot of said hood, whereby said bar is adapted to be projected through said slot past the aperture of the hood extension when said plunger is removed from interlocking position.

13. A cover for an interlocking mechanism comprising a hood having a slot in one side and an apertured extension alongside said slot.

14. Locking means for interlocking mechanism comprising a cover for the mechanism having a slot and having an apertured extension alongside said slot, and a bar sliding through said slot past the aperture of said extension.

15. In an interlocking mechanism comprising a swinging element, an enclosure for said element having a slot and having an extension with an aperture alongside said slot, and a bar having one end part pivoted to said swinging element and its other end part sliding through said slot past said aperture.

16. In an interlocking mechanism, an operating lever having trunnions and arn'is extending oppositely from its trunnions and having an operative extension on one of its trunnions at an angle to both of its arms, and a treadle fixed to said extension and lying substantially parallel with the axis of the trunnions.

17. In an interlocking mechanism, an operating lever having trunnions and arms extending oppositely from its trunnions and h ving operative extensions on its respective trunnions, substantially parallel with each other and at an angle to both of said arms, and a treadle fixed across on said extensions and lying substantially parallel with the axis of the trunnions.

18. In. an interlocking mechanism, coni- FRANK C. ANDERSON. 

